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He said negotiating with Al Qaeda might seem pointless now, but a political solution would be needed in the end.

Sir Hugh, a leading contender to take over from Sir Ian Blair as chief of the Metropolitan Police, said: 'If you want my professional assessment of any terrorism campaign, what fixes it is talking and engaging and judging when the conditions are right for that to take place.'

Asked if he was saying we should talk to Al Qaeda, Sir Hugh said: 'I don't think that's unthinkable, the question will be one of timing.'

He also called for the number of police forces to be slashed from 43 to nine to better fight terrorism.

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Top police chief: 'We must start negotiating with Al Qaeda now to stop terror'